Fire escape



Filed March 29, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet l mvcntor Jan. 9, E934.

E. GROSS 3,@42695 FIRE ESCAPE f Filed March 29, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 E. GROSS Jan. 9, 1934.,

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FIRE ESCAPE Filed March 29, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ogy/M Patented `lan. 9, 1934 STATES PATENT ,Fica

FIRE ESCAPE Edward Gross, Portland, Oreg.

Application March 29, 1932. Serial No. 601,800

My invention relates to re escapes.

.1. Claims.

The invention is adapted for being used as an auxiliary, in conjunction with standard re escapes.

My invention is used for connecting the lower- The invention is comprised primarily of a pair of hydraulic cylinders spaced apart.

The cylinders are adapted for being raised and lowered relative to piston rods that have pistons disposed thereupon that are to be reciprocated within the hydraulic cylinders.

The assembly is supported relative to the re escape assembly. A ladder is supported upon the hydraulic cylinders. hingedly secured to the cylinders.

The top of the ladder is Thebottom of the ladder is adapted for being automatically moved out to incline the ladder from the vertical.

The cylinder assembly may be raised and,

The assembly is stored within the fire escape.V

automatic when tripped by an occupant that is to be lowered thereupon.

The occupant sets the ground, or sidewalk.

A further object of my invention consists in providing simply constructed means that is normally supported upon the nre escape structure. The ladder will automatically lower by the tripping of the assembly, as by stepping upon a platform.

A further object of my invention consists in providing automatic means for inclining the ladder from the vertical when the same has been lowered to connect the lower platform of a fire escape with the ground, or sidewalk.

A still further object of my invention consists in providing means for automatically predetermining the rate of speed at which the ladder and its assembly will travel from the lower platform of the fire escape to the sidewalk.

With these and incidental objects in view, the

invention consists in certain novel features ofl construction and combination of parts, the essen-vv tial elements of which are set forth in the appended claims, and a preferred form ofr embodiment of which is hereinafter shown with reference to the drawings whichaccompan a part of this specification.

y and form In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a building, and a side view of one of my new and improved ladder assemblies, .shown in normal position of being supported within the nre escape assembly of a building and in normal raised position.

Fig. 2 is a side View of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. l, and illustrating my device as being lowered before the ladder has been inclined from the vertical. The dotted lines illustrating the ladder as having been inclined to the vertical.

Fig. 3 is a front View of the mechanism illustrated in Figs. l and 2, the same being taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction indicated.

Fig. 4 is a sectional, top plan View, of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1, the same being taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, sectional, side view of the lower end of the hydraulic cylinders and of the trip associated therewith and of the foot that is suspended from the lower end of the hydraulic cylinders. In this positionthe hydraulic cylinders and the ladder assembly are shown as being in their normal locked position and elevating within the re escape assembly.

Fig. 6 is a sectional, side view of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 5 and illustrating the tripped platform as having been lowered.

Fig. rI is a fragmentary, sectional, plan view of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 5, the same being taken on line 7 7 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction indicated.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary, sectional, plan View of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 5, the same being taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction indicated. y v

Fig. 9 is afragmentary, sectional, side vie", of the hydraulic cylinders of the. foot associated with the lower end thereof and illustrating the ladder assembly in its normal position of repose and inclined to the vertical after the cylinderf and ladderA assembly have been lowered.

Fig. lll-is a front View of the hydraulic cylinder and of the ladder assembly shown in full lowered position. e

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary, sectional side View, of the hydraulic 'cylinder assembly and illustrating the piston and check valve disposed within the cylinder.

Fig. 12 is a'fragmentary, sectional side View of the rr'iechanism illustrated in Fig.' 6, the same being taken on line 12-12 of Fig. 6, looking in the direction indicated.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary, sectional, side view of the re escape assembly and of the hydraulic cylinder and ladder assembly shown normally supported in raised position within the re escape assembly and illustrating the tripped platform in normal position relative to the lower platform of the fire escape. This view is taken on line 13-13 of Fig. 4,1ooking in the direction indicated.

Like YreferenceY characters vrefer vto like parts throughout the several views.

My device is primarily adapted for being used in conjunction with the re escape of a building. I have here shown my device as being nor,- mally supported within and by a re escape having platforms 1, 2 and 3. The platforms are spaced apart and connected to each other by ladders 4 and 5. A pair of supporting piston rods 6 and 7 are spaced apart and indirectly secured to platform 3 by suitable supportingpins or bolts 8 and 9. A pair of hydraulic cylinders 10 and 11 are reciprocably disposed relative tothe rods.

and are supported by the pistonrods 6 and '7.A

The upper end of each of the cylinders is threaded, as illustrated at 12, and a stuing gland end 15 of a cylinder.

bearing 13 is disposed within each of the cylinders. A shoulder 14 is formed upon each of the gland bearings to bring the same to a normal state of repose and be supported upon the upper A gland nut 16 is disposed about the piston rod and is threadably secured to the upper threaded end of the hydraulic cylinder. A compressible gasket 17 is disposed between the gland bearing and cap and normally maintains a fluid tight connection between the piston and the cylinder. The lower end of the piston rod has a piston 18 disposed upon its lower end. The, piston is secured to the piston rod by any suitable means as by being threadably der.

A ladder 3'7 is secured to the respective cylinders 1,0` and 11 by the placing of bands 38 and 39 about the cylinders. Ladder supporting pins and 41 extending outwardly therefrom andthe upper ends of the respective side members of the ladder are hingedly secured thereto. Spaced ladder rungs 42 secure the side members of the ladder together. The lowermost ends of the side members of the ladder are turned inwardly and then downwardly to form brackets'29.

A hinged trip platform 26 is hingedly secured about journal pins 2'7 that are disposed at the oppositely disposed sides of the bracket 29. The bracket 29 has a supporting lug 30 rearwardly extending from its lower end for engagement with theangle bar 31 that forms a part of thelower platform 1 of the fire escape. An opening 32 is disposed within the lower fire escape 1 through which the assembly is adapted to pass.

A foot 33 is disposed about a lower end of the base casting and outwardly extends'th'erefrom. Theplatform 26 carries a trip dog34that normally engages the cross upright portion 3.5 of

side walls 36A and the cross upright portion 35 is normally held in placement by the guide blocks 36. When a weight is applied to the trip platform the supporting lug 30 is disengaged from the angle bar 31 and the entire cylinder and platform assembly is automatically lowered by gravity. The operating uid, disposed Within the cylinders 10 and 11 passes from the upper end of the cylinder through the constricted clearance 21 into the lower end of the cylinder.

Trunnion wheels 43 and 44 are disposed at the lower ends of the ladder. Each of the trunnion Wheels is supported upon a track for manipulation therealong. The track is supported within the side walls of the foot 33. The track is comprised of an angle bar 45. The inner end 46 of the track is rearwardly inclined to the horizontal. The inclination maintains the wheels in intimate engagement relative to the cross upright portion 35.

When the base of the assembly has reached the sidewalk, or ground, the lower end 47 of a trip strikes the ground and raises the trip. The upper end 48 of the trip is an inclined plane, that normally engages the trunnion wheels and raises the trunnion wheels free of the rearwardly inclined surface 46 and moves the same forward sufficiently toy cause the same to rest directly upon the -forwardly inclined surface 47A of the track. When so engaged the foot of the ladder will be moved out through the action of gravity sufficiently to incline the ladder to the vertical to permit a person being rescued from the escape to descend down the ladder to safety. Hand rails 49 and 49A are disposed at the oppositely disposed sides of the ladder. Compensating slots 50 are disposed within the upper ends of the side rails of the ladder to permit the outer movement of the ladder relative to the track support assembly.

The hydraulic cylinder and ladder assembly may be manually,- raised within the fire escape, through the use of a block and tackle. When. a block and tackle is used, an eye bolt 51 is secured to one of the rails52 of one of the platforms of the fire escape, and a cross yoke 53 connects the respective cylinders. A depression 54 is formed in the yoke for engagement with one end of the block and tackle assembly.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objectsy primarily stated, itis to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one formy of embodiment herein shown and described, as it is susceptible of embodiment in 13@ various forms, all coming within the scope of the.V claims Whichfollowv.

What I claim is;

1. In adevice of the class described, inccombination with a iirevescape, a` pair of pistonY rods spaced apart anddepending from one of the upper members of the fire escape, pistons disposed upon the lower ends of the piston rods, a central passageway extending through each of the pistons, a` ball check Valve. disposed within F the passageway andnormally. held/ closed. by a coil spring, ports extending through the side walls` ofthe centralpassageway, an elongated cylinder associated with each of the piston rods andpisf tons, the piston being somewhat smaller thanv145. the cylinder to facilitate a passage of a fluid therebetween, abase bar connecting the respec tivecylinders at their. bottomk ends, the cylinders bflgllrmafly heldin @Tasdlpflsilon Within. the re escape by a supportingmeans including a150.

rearwardly extending lug for engagement with the re escape, a trip platform hingedly mounted to the base of the cylinders and adapted when weight is applied thereto to release the supporting lug and to thereby permit lowering of the assembly, a ladder slidably pivoted to the cylinders, the ladder normally resting in a substantially vertical position, automatic means for raising the ladder relative to the cylinders when the assembly has contacted the side walk beneath the fire escape, and means for projecting the lower end of the ladder from the vertical by gravity immediately following said contact with the side walk and manually manipulative means for raising the ladder assembly within the re escape assembly said projecting means including a downwardly inclined track and a trip adapted to project the lowermost end of the ladder onto the inclined portion of the track.

2. In a device of the class described, in combination with the re escape of a building and a sidewalk therebelow, a pair of piston rods depending from one of the re escapes, pistons having check valves disposed therein removably secured to the lower ends of the piston rods, a cylinder reciprocably disposed relative to each of the pistons and piston rods, the cylinders being secured together at their lower ends by a base member, means for normally maintaining the assembly raised and supported within the fire escape, a trip platform associated with the base of the assembly and adapted to release the assembly from raised position when a weight is placed upon the platform, a ladder slidably pivcted to the cylinders and adapted to be normally maintained in a Vertical position by a locking means and means for disengaging said locking means and permitting the lower end of the ladder to become projected outwardly by gravity from the lower end of the cylinders said means including a downwardly inclined track and a trip adapted to project the lowermost end of the ladder onto the inclined portion of the track.

3. In a device or" the class described, the combination of a pair of piston rods having ported pistons removably secured to the lower ends of the piston rods and having a check valve disposed within each of the pistons, a cylinder reciprocably disposed about each of the pistons and piston rods and forming guideways for the cylinders, locking means for normally maintaining the assembly in a vertical and elevated position within a re escape, a trip platform associated with the locking means and adapted to release the same when a weight is applied to the platform to permit lowering of the assembly, a ladder slidably pivoted to the cylinders and automatic means for inclining the ladder from the vertical when the assembly has reached its lowermost position upon the sidewalk or other supporting media said means including a downwardly inclined track and a trip adapted to project the lowermost en-d of the ladder onto the inclined portion of the track.

4. In a device of the class described, in combination with a re escape of piston rods and pistons having cylinders reciprocally associated therewith, a trip platform associated with the lower ends of the cylinders., a ladder slidably pivoted to the cylinders and adapted to be' normally maintained in a vertical position relative to the cylinders by the trip platform, and means actuated by the trip platform to permit lowering of the entire assembly relative to the re escape and means for permitting the lower end of the ladder to move outwardly by gravity with respect to the cylinders immediately following contact be-v tween the ladder and a sidewalk or the like.

EDWARD GROSS. 

